(28 Sep 2024, 7:07 pm)L469 YVK wrote I think the main driver was that 6304-07 ended up leaving so that they could be prioritised on Euro 6 routes, and StreetLites disappearing of the 16/16A in a swap for then ex Coaster B5LH's.
Saying that, if Percy Main end up with StreetDecks on the Cobalts when the Angel goes EV, the current Cobalt B9TL's have had very charmed lives and interior wise are decent spec. They wouldn't be too bad on something like the X5/X15 or 16/16A.
To be fair it's not even that, imo one of the worst purchases was the deckers for the X45/X46/X47, bar a few boards they never needed them and it was just overkill. They would've been better keeping the Streetlite's as now 4 years down the line we're on a route which is pretty much back to square one capacity wise but on a seriously reduced frequency.
It's one of those routes I'd love to see some ambition with and see the route downgraded back to singles but the routes restored as they were so you'd have the 45/46/47 all every 30 minutes. For the 47 through to Consett who knows, probably be better terminating the 10A short at Greenside and extending the R2 through to Consett instead, it's overkill having deckers over there imo.
The number of people using the X45, there's clearly demand down that corridor and it's pretty infrequent currently. Those Enviro's/B9's could be then used for the X5/X15/X70/X71/X72 instead.